Charlie Melancon was on the wrong side of the healthcare reform vote. It's time to deconstruct his recent comments on the subject, because he pissed me off. He's not my congressman, but he is the Democratic face of Louisiana and the prohibitive favorite to challenge David Vitter for the US Senate seat in 2010. This fact totally explains why he's running to the right, but it still sickens me. This is clearly another case of a politician putting the next election ahead of the the next generation.
And again, if you think turning a profit is the goal of government corporations, you haven't been listening.
''I’ll work with anyone, or stand up to anyone, when it comes to what's best for Louisiana. And the healthcare bill I voted against today in the House doesn't work for Louisiana.''
No, you apparently, won't. A majority of Americans favor this bill, and it is, in the long run better for our state. While a majority of our state may be against it that doesn't mean much. When was the last time you really heard from someone who was against it for good rational reasons. Say for instance that the state supported a law that said that to appease the reptilian shadow government, all public schools should be converted to sanctuaries of the flying spaghetti monster. Even if a hundred percent of the state supported such a bill, it would be the congressman's duty to vote against it because it actually is worse for the state.
"In these tough economic times, we've got to be smarter about getting government spending and the deficit under control, and the House's health care bill simply costs too much."
I'd like to know what doesn't cost too much! According to this congressman, two wars, repealing the estate tax, and tax cuts for the rich were perfectly economical at the time. The congressman is again parroting the nonsense about government spending being out of control, failing to point out that the cost of the current healthcare bill will be spread out over the next decade.
“And I can’t support a government-run insurance option that the people of Louisiana don't want."
Again, we have this meme of what the state wants. I say screw what the state wants if the state is uninformed! Do what's right!
“And I’ll keep working for smarter, more fiscally-responsible, market-based healthcare reforms...
I've already had lengthy discussions about why the free-market is wrong for healthcare. Here's a sample:
The free market only really works when a certain set of conditions are met, and two of those conditions are the public having enough information about the product to make an informed choice, and then having the power to cause a negative effect on the companies that are doing wrong. Our system fails to meet either of these conditions. Alex Smith knew that the free market would accomplish all the goals we have as a society, but only when it was well regulated, and people were able to make informed decisions. Remember, when the Wealth of Nations was written, "the market" consisted of landed, informed, noblemen. Ask any Dickens character how the free market works for the poor. The government has to intervene because it is the only way the poor will get enough economic muscle to influence the market towards addressing the needs of people who don't have the economic capital to matter to the insurance industry. Covering the poor is simply unprofitable, and thus contrary to the goals of the free market. This is one of those cases where the free market system, while working perfectly (accomplishing it's goal of maximizing profit without regard to those without the means to participate) is a bad thing. At what point have we reached the "last resort"? I think we can agree that the problems with the insurance industry, and the free market itself aren't going to get better on their own. Why should they? There is no incentive to advance company policy that will undoubtedly lose lots of money. In the interest of providing for the general welfare, the government must "encroach" a little on private insurance industry.
And again, if you think turning a profit is the goal of government corporations, you haven't been listening.
...that protect the sanctity of life.
Here's hoping the congressman realizes that money from private insurance companies already goes to fund abortions. Idiot.
This why I can't get behind the congressman as a candidate for the senate.
